Glittering gala event celebrates leadership for children

Former South African President Nelson Mandela presents the more than 94 million 'Say Yes for Children' pledges to the President of the UN General Assembly, Dr Han Seung-soo and Korean First Lady Lee Hee-ho.

Click here to view video clips from the concert.

10 May 2002, NEW YORK - For more than a week, a hulking white structure has been growing on the North Lawn of the United Nations in New York. This massive tent was finally ready for service yesterday, complete with a stage for a cast of some 500 performers and seating for the 1,300 invited guests.

At 7:00pm, an audience of world leaders and others attending the UN Special Session on Children were wowed by performances from an equally eminent cast of mostly child stars and a very special guest appearance from former South African President Nelson Mandela and international expert on children and armed conflict Graça Machel.

Keeping his commitment to the delegates of the Children's Forum, Mr. Mandela handed over the more than 94 million 'Say Yes for Children' pledges to the President of the UN General Assembly, Dr. Han Seung-soo. The enormously successful campaign set a Guinness World Record for the largest international pledge campaign.

"In many ways the campaign is just beginning," said Mr. Mandela. "To 'Say Yes' is only the first step, now we must turn the pledges into reality for all the world's children."

Another VIP guest, Kofi Annan, the Secretary-General of the UN, who was on stage with his wife, Nane, said: "As from tomorrow we must get on with the work of turning that 'Yes' into action and deeds. And that means we must change the world with children. But now let's celebrate. Let the show begin."

And they certainly did celebrate. Children, accompanied by international celebrities, elaborated on the 'Say Yes for Children' campaign's 10 critical actions needed to improve the lives of children and adolescents everywhere.

Their adult allies included actors Cicely Tyson, Michael Douglas and Marc John Jefferies and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassadors Roger and Kristina Moore and Harry and Julie Belafonte. Crack tennis star and UN Messenger of Peace, Vijay Amritraj, and UNICEF Regional Ambassadors Anatoly Karpov, the chess champion, and Ghada Shouaa, Olympic gold medallist, bolstered the campaign for children.

The remarkable voices of among others, Mongolian pop star, Tumur Ariuna; US country music sensation, Billy Gilman; Swedish chart-topper, Josephine Garline; and one of the world's best-loved African singers, Angélique Kidjo, had the distinguished guests clapping and cheering.

Canadian Wesley Chu, 10, captivated the listeners with a medley, accompanied by the more than 160-strong National Youth Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela. Throughout the evening there were performances from both the Orchestra and the 300-voice UNICEF World Chorus - directed by renowned Canadian composer Jack Lenz and specially enlisted from talented New York youth choirs just for the concert.

The gala, billed "A Celebration of Leadership: Change the world with children," was jointly hosted by UNICEF and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

"The evening was a great celebration of leadership for and by children," summed up producer Naysán Sahba. "The talent and capacity of the young people, their poise and character was equal to any of the adults in the audience."